Sleepy Eye

holds tax

hearing

Preliminary

taxes up

6.5 percent

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- During a Truth in Taxation Hearing Tuesday, preliminary 2005 budget figures indicate a 6.5 percent increase in preliminary tax asking over 2004 and a 3.76 percent rise in overall expenses for the city of Sleepy Eye.

Due to an $80,000 reduction in Local Government Assistance (LGA), city revenue is less than it was in 2002, according to Sleepy Eye City Manager Mark Kober.

The city plans to use $100,000 in surplus reserves next year in order to keep taxes down.

Considering the LGA cuts, the city tax asking is up 5.4 percent over the past three years.

New expenses in the 2005 budget include a new shelter at Sportsman's Park, $200,000 for street reconstruction, $75,000 for downtown improvements, a new civil defense siren in the northeast corner of town, a new fire truck and police cruiser.

The Sleepy Eye Arena Association would get a $55,000 loan with $45,000 coming from the true reserve.

On average, city employees would get four percent salary increases in 2005. Most employees got 3 percent annual increases the previous two years.

During the hearing, Sleepy Eye resident Phil Heymans asked if the city ever considered bidding out mowing grass and removing snow in order to reduce costs?

Novotny said the subject has been discussed at length. Kober said the city may be better off contracting for snow removal depending upon snow amounts. No action was taken.

Heymans suggested the city publish city salaries by position.

Kober said the information was public but that there is no law requiring publishing city salaries.

Noting a book he read, "The Price of Government," Kober said he was interested in visiting neighborhoods and asking people if they thought the city was spending their tax money properly.

"I want to give people information that they want and need," Kober said. "I get more input from women's' clubs and the senior citizens center than anyplace else."

The council will adopt a final budget at its Dec. 14 meeting.

Tobacco licenses approved for 2005 for Casey's General Store, Freedom Value Center, Meyer's Bar & Lounge, Orchid Inn, Servicemen's Club, Jerry's Place, River Region Co-op, Jubilee Foods and Sleepy Eye Lanes.

(Fritz Busch can be reached at fbusch@nujournal.com).